Apparatus for folding and closing the ends of bags or the like



July 28, 1931. A; G. ROSE' 1,816,126

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING THE ENDS OF BAGS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l lllln July 28, 1931. A. G. ROSE 1,816,126

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING THE ENDS OF BAGS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lInu I'I:I

IIHI l NIL-THW] A.G.RosE

July 2s, 1931.

APPARATUSV FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING THE ENDS 0F BAGS OR THE LIKE Filed oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lll .July 28, 1931.

A. G. ROSE APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING THE ENDS OF BAGS OR THE LI'KE Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 2.8,l 1931 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `ALFRED GERMAN RosE, OE GAiNsBoRouGH, ENGLAND, AssIGNoE or ONE-HALE 'ro ROSE BROTHERS (GAINSBOROUGH) LIMITED, or- 'GAINSBOEOUGE ENGLAND, A

BRITISH COMPANY yAPPARATUS FOR FOLDING ANDCLOSING THE ENDS OF BAGS 0R THE LIKE Application led October 24, 1929, Serial No. 402,269, and in Great Britain October 26, 1928.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to apparatus for folding and closy in accordance with the method described in specification of British Letters Patent No.

- 281,174, granted to us.

This 'invention therefore y.provides folding apparatus comprising in combination, oscillating fingers arranged to be insertedinto theopen mouth of a bag and to move apart to elongate or distend the mouth, pressuremembers operable to fold down portions of the bag to either side of the distended mouth in such mannerv as to produce extended tab portions upon the sides of the bag engaged by the fingers and an upstanding double wall (comprising the marginal portion of the mouth) extending between the fingers, and folding members, operable after the withdrawal of the fingers, to turn the said double wall and the tabs over on to the surfaceof the previously folded portions aforesaid. Preferably there is combined with folding apparatus as above described a conveyor which is intermittently movable to transport the bag along a path between a series of folding stations, at each of which stations one or more of the several successive folding operations are effected.

The folding apparatus may have folding members operable upon the aforesaid double wall constituted by the marginal portion of the bag mouth, firstly to crease the said wall along a line intermediate of its base and top and to double it on itself, and secondly to fold down the now quadrupled thickness of the bag in a ldirection opposite to the creasing movement, and may be further provided with stationary guides operable .during the advance of the bag to engage the said quadrupled fold and to turn it through substantially 180, so that the free fnouth edge which previously lay in the upper lap of the fold is brought into the lower lap and in contact with the previously folded top portions of lmally spaced therefrom and an oscillating creasing member arranged to crease the said wall between the smoothing plate and pressure plate.

In a preferred form the pressure plate is` arranged to advance upon the retraction of the creasing member and to fold the creased double wall towards or 0n to the upper surface of the bag.

According to another feature of this in,.

vention the tab folding mechanism comprises an oscillating plunger which is Imovable into Contact with the upper surface of the bag to force the latter below the upper edge of a container enclosing the sides of they bag, thus causing the tabs to turn through approximately 90 into the plane of the containerA sides, from which position they may be subsequently folded down upon theupper surface. of the bag (the tabs being projecting portions, substantially triangular in plan, on two Opposed sides of the bag mouth, which are formed when those portions of the bag to either side of the distended mouth are folded down). This container may be an integral part of the conveyor, or it may be constituted by a carton, or other similar receptacle, within which the bag is supported, or by plates (engaging the front and rear of the bag as referring to the direction of.

travel) moving between stationary guides on the machine bed. In order to make the plunger more eiiicient in action its contacting surface may be of concave or otherwise hollowed formation.

Folding apparatus embodying the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which- Figure '1 isan elevation showing the gen-l eral arrangement of the folding apparatus,

Figure 2 is an elevation, looking in the direction ofthe arrow, of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, on an enlarged scale, IN'

of certain details of the folding mechanism, shown in Figure 2.

Figurey 4 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of the creasing mechanism.

Figure 5 is an elevation of further details intermittently, the bags being drawn between guide plates'1'2, 12 on the bed 13 of the machine by conveyorv plates 14 attached to the chain. The bag which is rectangular in plan is shown in Figure 2. Above the mouth of the bag `are positioned a pair of fingers 15, 15 which are pivoted `at 16 on a carrier 17 supported on a stud 18 at the outer end of a rocking lever 19. The further.v

end of this lever is attached by a link 20 to a bracket 21 on the bed of the machine. The lever 19 is reciprocated (by means of a cam which is not shown) by a ,rod 22 which is pivoted at 23 approximately halfway along the length of the lever.

To the pivot 23 is attached a radius bar 24 pivoted at its other end to a bracket 25 and on the blade carrier 17 is a grooved extension piece 26 which slides upon a tongue 27 formedon a bracket 28 attached to the machine bed. (For the sake of clearness the grooved extension piece and tongue are omitted from Figure 2). The object of the radius bar 24 and the tongue piece 27 is to ensure that the blade carrier 17 movesin a vertical.

direction. On the far side of'their pivot the fingers are provided with roller arms 29, 29

carrying at their extremities rollersl 30, 30,

whichl engage `with a cam 31 so that upon downward movement of the rocking lever 19 the rollers are drawn together over the cam face by a spring (which is not shown.) thus causing the fingers 15 to. move outwards during their entry-t0 the mouth 36 of the bag and distend the latter. A pair of folding'blades 32,32, are pivoted at 133 in a boss provided on the outer end of a second rocking lever 134 having a link 136, operating rod 372, radius bar 138 and vertical guides (not shown) similar to those connected to the first rocking lever 19. These parts do not appear in Figure 2 as they lie immediately behind the similar parts abovementioned. The folding blades 32, 32 which are shown in a series of positions in Figure 3) carry upon their upper extremities rollers 33,33 which contact with a cam 34 and are operated in a manner similar to that al- 4shown in Figure 7.

It will be seen that the Vfolding blades and i tucking fingers work in vertical lanes at right angles to one another and on t ose sides.

of the bag engaged by the fingers 15 substantially triangular tab portions 37 and 137 are formed while joining in the apices in these triangles is an upstanding double wall 38 formed by the marginal portions of the bag mouth 36. This stage in the folding operations is shown in Figure 7.

The oscillating fingers 15 and the .folding blades 32 are now retired to their upper position and the intermittent movement of the conveyor chain 11 transports the partially folded bag 10 to a-second folding station at which the creasing member 39 shown in the dotted lines vin Figure 2 and on an enlarged -scale in Fi ure 4 comes into operation. The function of this creasing member and its associated parts is to crease the upstanding wall 38 and to double it over. A smoothing plate 40 is provided carried on'the end of an arm 41 secured to a stationary stud 42 in a bracket 43- attached to themachine bed. Above the smoothing plate 40 is a pressure plate 44 carried on the upper arm 45 of a bell crank lever y52 pivoted on the stud 42. A stop 46 on the lower arm 47 of the bell' crank lever 52 contacts with a stop 48 upon the. lower arm 49 of a second bell crank lever 53 hav- It will be observed that the abovevarrangement gives a resilient movement to the pressure plate 44. Thel creasing member 39 is carried on the lower end of a vertical arm 56 pivoted at 57 above the folding station, which arm is oscillated by a rod 58, lever 59 and a suitable cam (which is not shown). The smoothing plate 40 contacts with the folded upper surface 35 of the bag, the double wall 38 lyin vertically between the creasing member an the smoothing plate. The creasing member 39 is drawn towards thesmoothing plate 40 by the rod 58 and tucks lthe double wall 38 between the pressure plate 44 and the smoothing plate, partly fold' it. The creasing member is now retired an the pressure plate brought down to resiliently press the fold and then also retired. An abutment 72 may be provided on the smoothing plate wall extending bet een the fingers in a planeously lay in the upper lapin the fold are now in the lower lap and in contact with the upper surface 35 of the bag. Passing through the guides 60, 61the bag arrives at a third foldmg station where a plunger 62 comes down into contact with the upper surface of thebag and presses it slightly below the upper edges of the rectangular container formed by the vconveyors 14 and guide plates 12 so that the tab portions 37 and 137 are swung upwards through approximately 90 4into a vertical position (see Figure 5).

The plunger 62 now retires and a folder arm 63 carrying a first tab folder 64 and pivoted to the machine frame at 65 is oscillated to fold one of the tabs 37 down in the direction of travel. The first tab folder 64 having been retired a second tab folder 66 carried on a lever 67 pivoted at 68 is oscillated by swinging lever 72k and any convenient mechanism such as a cam or crank and Con'- nectin rod (not shown) to fold the second tab 13 backwards in the opposite direction over the first tab 37. Upon the further movement of the conveyor the bag is brought under a smoothing plate 69 which smooths and retains the several folded portions of the bag in their correct positions. This smoothing plate 69 merely comprises a metal strip with an upturned leading edge 70. In Figure 8 is shown a modified form of plunger 62 in which the contacting face 71 is slightly recessed in order to make it more eective in operation.

I claimy 1. Folding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillatin fingers and means to insert them centrally into the open mouth of a bag and subsequently to move them apart to ,elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally,` and then close and withdraw them, pressure members operable at the base of the distended mouth to flatten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof onto the contents of the bag and to form extended tabs which are substantiall triangular in plan andlie in the plane of t e said flattened portions upon the sides of the bag en a d by the fin ers and also an upstanding fiuele at right angles to e plane occupied by the tabs and the aforesaid flattened portions, of folding members and means to operate them after the withdrawal of thefingers to turn the double wall and also the tabs over to lie flat upon the surface of the previously flattened portions aforesaid. K

'2'. Folding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillatin fingers and` means to insert them centrally into the openmouth of a bag and subsequently to move rthem apart to elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally and finally to close and withdraw, pressure members operable at the base of the distended mouth revious to the withdrawal of the'fingers to atten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof onto the contents of the bag and to form extended tabs and lie in the plane of the said flattened portions upon the sides of the bag engaged bv the fingers and an upstanding double wall extending between the fingers in a plane at right angles to the plane occupied by the tabs and the aforesaid flattened portions, means operable first to crease the double wall along a line intermediate of its base and top and to double it on itself and secondly to fold the now quadrupled thickness of the bag in a direction opposite to the creasing movement, and means to turn the tabs over to lie flat upon the surface of the previously flattened portions aforesaid.

3. Folding ap aratus comprising the combination of an 1ntermittently movable conveyor for transporting bags, oscillating fingers, and means to insert them centrally into the open mouth of a bag and subsequently to move them apart to elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally and finally t0 close and withdraw them, pressure members operable at the base of the distended mouth to flatten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof onto the contents of thebag and to form extended tabs which are substantially triangular in plan and lie in the plane of the said flattened portions upon the sides of the tially 180 onto the flattened portions aforesaid flattened portions.

4. Folding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillating fingers and means to 'insert them centrally into the open mouth of a bagy and subsequently to move them apart to elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally, and finally to yclose and withdraw them, pressure members operable at the base of the distended mouth to flatten portions of the walls ofthe mouth at the base thereof onto the contents of the bag and to form extended tabs which are 'substantially triangular in plan and lie in the plane of the said flattened portions upon the sides of the bag engaged by the fingers and an upstanding double wall extending between the fingers in a plane at right angles to the plane said, and means for folding the tabs onto the occupied by the tabs and the aforesaid flattened portions, means operable first to crease the double wall along'a. line intermediate of its base. and top and to double it on itself, comprising a smoothing plate arranged to contact with a previously flattened portion of the bag to one side of the upstauding double wall. a. pressure plate placed above the smoothing plate and normally spaced therefrom, an oscillating creasing member and means to insert it between the smoothing plate and pressure plate to crease the double wall, and means to fold the tabs fiat upon the surface of the previously flattened portions aforesaid. a

5. Folding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillating fingers and means: to

insert them centrally into the open mouthof a bag and subsequently to move them apart yto'elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally, pressure members operable at the base of the distended mouth to flatten portions of the wallsof the mouth at the base thereof onto the contents of the bag and to form extended tabs which are substantially triangular in plan and lie in the plane of the said flattened portions upon the sides ofthe bag engaged by the fingers and an upstanding double wall extending between the fingers in a plane at right angles to the plane occupied by the tabs and the aforesaid flattened portions, means'operable first to crease the double wall along a line intermediate of its base and top and to double it on itself, comprising a'smoothing plate arranged to contact with a previously fiattened portion of the bag to one side of the upstanding double wall, a pressure plate placed above the smoothing plate and normally spaced therefrom, an oscillating creasing member and means to insert it between the smoothing plate and pressure plate to crease the double wall, and stationary guides operable during the advance of the bag .to engage the now quadrupled fold and to turn itthrough substantially 180 onto the flattened portions aforesaid, and means to fold the tabs flat 'upon the surface of the previously flattened portions aforesaid. v

6.v Folding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillating fingers and means to insert them centrally into the open mouth of a bag and subsequently to move them apart to elongate or distend the mouth longitudinally, pressure members operable at the base ofthe distended mouth to. flatten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof.

onto the contents of the bag and to form extended tabs which are substantially triangular in plan and lie-.in the plane of the said flattened portions upon the sides ofthe bag engaged by the fingers and an upstanding double wallextending between'the fingers -in a plane at right angles to the plane occupied bythe tabs and the aforesaid flattened portions, means operable first to crease the double wall along a line intermediate of its ,base and top and to double it on itself, complate and normally spaced therefrom, an osf cillating creasing member and means to insert it between the smoothing plate and pressure plate to crease the double wall, and means to' advance the pressure plate towards the bag upon retraction of the creasing mem-A ber to fold the creased double wall towards the surface of the bag, and finally means for foldin the tabs fiat upon the top of the bag. 7. Finlding apparatus comprising the combination of oscillating fingers andmeans to insert them centrally into the open. mouth of a bag and subsequently to move them apart to elongate or distend the mouth 1ongltudinally, and then close and withdraw them, two pressure members, means to ad- Vance them towards the bag and to b them together previous to the withdrawa of the fingers to grip the distended mouth immediately above the contents of the bag to Hatten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof and to form extended tabs which are substantially triangular in plan and lie in the plane of said flattened portion upon the sides of the bag engaged by the fingers and also to form an ulpstanding double wall extending between t e ngers in a plane at right angles to the plane occupied by the tabs and the attened portions aforesaid, means to retract the pressure members, of folding members and me'aus to operate them after the withdrawal of the fin# gers to turn the double wall and also the tabs over to lie flat upon the surface ofthe previously flattened portions aforesaid.

' 8. Folding apparatus comprising the combination of'oscillatingfngers and means to insert them centrally into the open mouth of a bag and subse uently to move them apart to elongate or stend the mouth 1ongitudinally, two pressure members, means to advance them towards the bag and to br' them together previous tothe Withdraw of the finl ers to the distended mouth immediate y above tfie contents of the bag to flatten portions of the walls of the mouth at the base thereof and to form extended tabs which are substantially trian ar in plan and lie-in the plane of said attened portion upon'the sides of the bag engaged by the fingers and also to form an upstanding double wall-extending between the iingers in a plane at right angles to thev plane occupied by the tabs and t e flattened por tion's aforesaid, means to retract the prese sure members, means operable first to'crease the double wall along'a line 'intermediate of itsbase and top and-tov double it on' itself,

Lemie@ comprising n smoothin piste arranged to Contact with s, preniousy fisttened portion of the beg to one side of tlie upstanding double Weli, e pressure lote placed above' the smoothing plete en normally spaced therefrom, en oscillating creasing member and means to insert it between the smoothing isf plate and pressure plate to crease the double Well, and ineens to edv/ence the pressure plete towards the beg upon retraction of the creesing member to fold the creased double Wall.

towards the sursce of the beg9 and finally means for folding the tabs ctnpon the top of the beg.

9e The combination with folding apperatus according to claim 6 of means for olding the tabs @et upon the top of the bag, comprisin e container surrounding the sides of thes and e plunger operable to depress the ba slow the top of the container to force t ie tabs up through substantially 10. VThe combination with folding apparatus according to claim 7, of :i container surrounding the sides of the bag, a plunger hsving e recessed face, for depressing the bag below the top of the container to force the tabs u through substantially 90, and means inclu ing swinging folder arms for completing the tab folding.

In testimony whereof aix my signature.

ALFRED GER-MAN ROSE. 

